Putter head

ABSTRACT

A putter-type club head and system having interchangeable alignment inserts and interchangeable weight members which allow for the modification of the playing characteristics of the putter-type club head. The putter-type club head has a body defining a front face and an aft side, first and second spaced, aft-members extending substantially perpendicularly out of the aft side, interchangeable bridge members of varying weights that may be installed on the distal ends of the first and second spaced, aft-members and various interchangeable alignment inserts that may be removably installed between the first and second spaced, aft-members of the club head.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a putter-type club head. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a putter-type club headhaving interchangeable weights and interchangeable alignment inserts.

BACKGROUND Brief Description of Related Art

One example of a putter is described in is Uebelhor, U.S. Pat. No.6,086,484, for a Golf Putter Head. Uebelhor discloses a putter head witha U-shaped body and a block within the middle. The block has a lowerspecific gravity than the U-shaped body.

Yet another example is Rose et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,412 for a GolfClub, Particularly A Putter. The Rose patent discloses a center portioncomposed of a light metal material and the heel and toe portionscomposed of heavier metals. The metals are forged or cast to create theputter head.

An example of a putter having an interchangeable crown plate displayingan alignment mechanism that assists a golfer in properly aiming a golfball toward a hole when putting is Tang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,394,entitled Putter Head. Tang et al., teaches that the alignment mechanismdisplayed on the crown plate may comprise a large white strip or one ormore circular symbols.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is a putter-type club head andsystem including a body and a plurality of interchangeable alignmentinserts and a plurality of interchangeable weight members which allowfor the modification of the playing characteristics of the putter-typeclub head. The putter-type club head has a body defining a front faceand an aft side, first and second spaced, aft-members extendingsubstantially perpendicularly out of the aft side, interchangeablebridge members of varying weights that may be selectively and removablyinstalled on the distal ends of the first and second spaced,aft-members, and interchangeable alignment inserts that may beselectively and removably installed between the first and second spaced,aft-members of the club head.

Having briefly described the present invention, the above and furtherobjects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by thoseskilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description ofthe invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the present invention to be clearly understood and readilypracticed, the present invention will be described in conjunction withthe following figures which are incorporated into and constitute a partof the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a putter-typeclub head of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the putter-type club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the putter-type club head of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the putter-type club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the putter-type club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the putter-type club head of FIG.1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an alignmentinsert for use with a putter-type club head and system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of analignment insert for use with a putter-type club head and system of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the presentinvention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevantfor a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating,for purposes of clarity, other elements that may be well known. Those ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements aredesirable and/or required in order to implement the present invention.However, because such elements are well known in the art, and becausethey do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention,a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. The detaileddescription of the present invention and the preferred embodiment(s)thereof is set forth in detail below with reference to the attacheddrawings.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designatecorresponding structure throughout the views, FIG. 1 illustrates apreferred embodiment of a putter-type club head of the present inventiongenerally designated 20. The club head 20 has a body 22 that ispreferably composed of a cast or forged metal. In a preferredembodiment, the body 22 comprises a material such as an aluminum alloy.Alternative materials for the body 22 include aluminum, titanium,titanium alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, and the like. The body 22is preferably formed by casting, milling, welding, and/or forging.Formed pieces and the like may also be utilized without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention.

The body 22 of the putter head 20 defines a front face 24 which mayinclude an insert 25 of a different material which may include copper,stainless steel, plastics and/or polymers. The top of body 22 defines anaperture 28 into which a shaft or hosel may be installed, and a scoredsight line 23 to aid in aligning the putter head during use. The body 22also comprises an aft side 26 which is substantially planar and a pairof spaced, aft-members 30, 32 extending substantially perpendicularlyout of aft side 26. An interchangeable bridge member 50 is removablyinstalled on the distal ends of the first and second spaced, aft-members30, 32 using allen bolts 51 or other fastening means such as socketbolts, screws, etc., inserted through apertures 54, 56 and screwed intothreaded apertures 34, 36, respectively, as is well known in the art.The bridge member 50 may define a sight line 52, as shown in FIG. 2, asan additional alignment aid.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5, an interchangeable and reversiblealignment insert 40 is removably installed between the first and secondspaced, aft-members 30, 32. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the innersurfaces of aft-members 30, 32 preferably define elongated slots 37 and38, respectively, which receive one of the ribs 44, 46 defined by theedges 45, 47, respectively, of the insert 40.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, aft-members 30 and 32 may preferablycomprise sections 31 and 33, respectively, made from a material ofdifferent color or density than the remainder of the respectiveaft-members 30 and 32. Such sections 31, 33 may be attached by welding,epoxy or by alien bolts 51 or other fastening means such as socketbolts, screws, etc., as is well known in the art.

Preferably, one or more alignment features, symbols or indicia, 49, 60or 61, including without limitation lines, circles, arrows and otherdesigns and geometric shapes, may be disposed on or defined by one orboth sides 41, 43 of alignment insert 40, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 7and 8. In the case where alignment insert 40 has one or more alignmentfeatures, symbols or indicia 49 on both sides 41 and 43 with side 41facing upward, such alignment insert 40 may be pulled out of head 22,after bridge member 50 has been removed, and re-inserted so that side 43is facing upward. Thereafter, bridge member 50 is re-installed to secureinsert 40 within the body 22 of the putter head 20. In this manner, thealignment features 49 of the putter head 20 may be quickly and easilychanged by the user, even while on the golf course. As illustrated inFIGS. 2, 4,5, 7 and 8, the sides 41, 43 of the alignment inserts 40 maybe planar or concave. The sides 41, 43 may also be convex.

In a similar fashion, a preferred system of the present inventionprovides for the quick and easy modification of the overall weight ofthe putter head 20 through the provision of a plurality ofinterchangeable bridge members 50, wherein each of the bridge members 50has a distinct weight with respect to each of the other plurality ofbridge members 50. Only one of the bridge members at a time is removablyinstalled on the first and second spaced, aft-members 30, 32 of theputter head 20. The user may removably install a bridge member 50 havinga weight to his or her liking by using allen bolts 51. In addition, theplurality of bridge members may be provided in a variety of differentshapes, colors and materials, including without limitation metals, suchas steel, aluminum and copper, plastics, polymers and resins, to providefurther flexibility with respect to the appearance and weight of theputter head 20.

From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinentart will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention andwill readily understand that while the present invention has beendescribed in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and otherembodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes,modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which isintended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in thefollowing appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the inventionin which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined inthe following appended claims.

1. A putter-type club head comprising: a body defining a front face and an aft side; first and second spaced, aft-members extending out of said aft side; a bridge member installed on said first and second spaced, aft-members; and an insert disposed between first and second spaced, aft-members.
 2. The putter-type head of claim 1 further comprising an alignment feature defined by said insert.
 3. The putter-type head of claim 1 further comprising an alignment indicium defined by said insert.
 4. The putter-type head of claim 1 further comprising an alignment symbol defined by said insert.
 5. The putter-type head of claim 1 further comprising one or more alignment features, symbols or indicia disposed on a first side of said insert.
 6. The putter-type head of claim 5 further comprising one or more alignment features, symbols or indicia disposed on a second side of said insert.
 7. The putter-type head of claim 6 wherein said first side of said insert faces upward and said second side of said insert faces downward.
 8. The putter-type head of claim 7 wherein said insert may be removed from between said first and second spaced, aft-members and repositioned therebetween so that said second side of said insert faces upward and said first side of said insert faces downward.
 9. The putter-type head of claim 1 wherein said bridge member is removably installed on said first and second spaced, aft-members.
 10. The putter-type head of claim 1 wherein said insert is disposed between said bridge member and said aft side of said body.
 11. The putter-type head of claim 10 wherein said bridge member may be removed from said first and second spaced, aft-members to allow for the removal of said insert that is removably disposed between said first and second spaced, aft-members.
 12. The putter-type head of claim 1 wherein said aft side of said body is substantially planar and each of said first and second spaced, aft-members is disposed substantially perpendicular to said aft side of said body.
 13. The putter-type head of claim 1 wherein an inner portion of each of said first and second spaced, aft-members defines a slot.
 14. The putter-type head of claim 13 wherein first and second edges of said insert each define a rib which is received in one of said slots defined by said first and second spaced, aft-members.
 15. A putter-type club head system comprising: a body defining a front face and an aft side; first and second spaced, aft-members extending out of said aft side; and a plurality of interchangeable bridge members, wherein each of said bridge members has a distinct weight with respect to each of the other plurality of bridge members, wherein only one of said bridge members at a time may be removably installed on said first and second spaced, aft-members.
 16. The putter-type head system of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of interchangeable alignment inserts, wherein each of said plurality of alignment inserts comprises at least one alignment feature, symbol or indicium, and wherein only one of said alignment inserts at a time may be removably installed between said first and second spaced, aft-members.
 17. The putter-type head system of claim 16 wherein an inner portion of each of said first and second spaced, aft-members defines a slot.
 18. The putter-type head system of claim 17 wherein each of said alignment inserts comprises first and second edges, wherein each of said first and second edges defines a rib which is received in one of said slots defined by said first and second spaced, aft-members when its respective alignment insert is removably installed between said first and second spaced, aft-members. 